Improvement in cobsets



W. H. STROUP. CORSET.

No. 69,140, Patented Sept. 24, 1,867.

WESLEY H. STROUP, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA Letters Patent No. 69,140, dated i epfcmbr'r 24, 1867 IMPROVEMENT IN GORSETS,

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TO ALL TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN;

, Be it known that I, WESLEY H. STnonP, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved Expansion Corset;-and I do hereby declare that the following is a true and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a corset that will instantly expand upon the body at the will of the wearer, thus affording immediate relief from tightness, without the trouble of unlacing, by means of hooks adjusted to the front or breast of the corset, acted upon by a cord appended thereto, by which the hooks are drawn from their fastenings, allowing the corset to enlarge to a given extent without opening, being kept in place by linen or other material fastened upon one side of the corset, back of the hooks, and attached to the other side by buttons, thc openingsfor which are of sufiicient length to allow the required expansion.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I I construct the body of the COI'SCL- 111 any of the known forms, and fasten it in front by means of movable hooks of metallic substance, riveted upon plates, as shown at a a a, fig. 1, which clasp the knobs or pins K K K set in the corset, as shown in figs- 1, 2, and 3, to which the cord C, figs. 1, 2, and 3, is attached, which extends below the corset. When relief is required by the wearer from the tightness of lacing, the cord 0 (with tassel hanging in front beneath the folds of the dress) when pulled, which can be done without observation at any -time or place, withdraws the hooks from-the knobs K K K, allowing the corset 'to ert'pand, as shown in fig. 2, w the centre hook being so arranged by means of the curved slot or opening 2', figs. 2 and 3, in the guard-plate a,

as to keep the hooks and cord in place, and strengthen the hooks. To prevent the corset from opening entirely, and yet allow suflicient expansion, I fasten a piece of linen or other material, by sewing or otherwise, on one side of the corset, back of the books, as shown at B B, fig. 3, with buttons, S S S, attached, to button in holes 7:. h h, figs. 1, 2, and 3, the button-holes being made of snflicientlength to allow the buttons to slide from onequarter to one-half an inch op more, as required. The linen B B, figs. 2 and 3, which allows the expansion and P prevents the entire opening of the corset, is not the only material used for the purpose. I claim the use of muslin, linen, or other cloths, whet-her the same be combined with gum or other substances, to furnish the means of expansion; 4

Figure 1 represents the corset closed. Figure 2 represents the corset expanded. Figure 3 represents the corset entirely open.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- V A corlet fcstening, the female port of which is provided withv a movable guard, is, actuated by cord 0, the whole constructed and operating substantially as described, in combination with a corset provided with a l detachable fastening,'as hereinbefore described.

[claim the button attachment B, arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

' WESLEY H. srnour. Witnesses:

' J. Guns. DIGKEK, A. S. Nrononsox. 

